What ICSPI does

ICSPI Corporation is a privately held Canadian scientific instrumentation company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, where all instruments are designed, assembled, and shipped. The company develops and sells desktop atomic force microscopes (AFMs) built on a proprietary CMOS-MEMS AFM-on-a-chip platform — miniaturized 1 mm² scan heads with integrated on-chip sensing — that was developed over more than ten years at the University of Waterloo. This architecture eliminates the laser-alignment and manual-approach steps associated with traditional AFMs and enables sub-nanometer precision imaging with automated, one-click operation.

ICSPI's product portfolio comprises two core instruments — the nGauge AFM (a compact, lightweight desktop system introduced as the company's first commercial product) and the Redux AFM (a motorized, automated system with integrated optical microscope and motorized XYZ stage launched in 2023) — complemented by interchangeable sensor-integrated AFM chips (Diamond-Like Carbon and Alumina Wedge tip variants) sold as consumables rated for 1,000+ scans each. An additional AFM Array Technology line, using parallel MEMS-based scan heads, targets full-wafer semiconductor metrology. Revenue is generated through quote-based hardware sales of instruments and recurring consumable revenue from proprietary chips, with pricing not publicly disclosed.

The company serves academic researchers, educational institutions, industrial R&D and quality control teams, and semiconductor manufacturers across more than 40 countries, reaching customers that include Intel, Argonne National Laboratory, OTI Lumionics, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Alberta nanoFAB, and Akasel A/S. Distribution combines direct sales ("Request a Demo" / "Request Pricing" CTAs) with a global distributor network supported by a Distributors Portal, alongside digital marketing through YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, a corporate blog, and an email newsletter. Leadership comprises CEO David Morris and Co-Founder Neil Sarkar, PhD, with Prof. Raafat Mansour, PhD affiliated in an advisory capacity; the company has historical ties to the Velocity incubator (2009) and the Creative Destruction Lab (2016).

Name

ICSPI

Legal name

ICSPI Corporation

Website

https://icspicorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICSPI Corporation is a Canadian scientific instrumentation company that designs and manufactures desktop atomic force microscopes on a proprietary CMOS-MEMS AFM-on-a-chip platform. It serves academic researchers, industrial R&D teams, and semiconductor manufacturers in over 40 countries through direct sales and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation (Atomic Force Microscopy)

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO)

Keywords

• Atomic force microscopy
• MEMS-based AFM
• Scanning probe instruments
• Nanoscale metrology
• Semiconductor inspection tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Atomic Force Microscope Sales: ICSPI generates revenue through the sale of their two main AFM products - the Redux AFM (automated, higher-end model with motorized XY stage) and nGauge AFM (compact, affordable desktop AFM). Both are sold with associated AFM chips as consumables.
2. AFM Chips (Consumables): Proprietary AFM chips (DLC and WDG tips) sold as consumables for use with their AFM systems. Each chip is capable of 1000+ scans, providing recurring revenue from consumables.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICSPI develops and manufactures atomic force microscopes (AFMs) built on its proprietary AFM-on-a-chip CMOS-MEMS technology, replacing conventional laser-based optical setups with monolithic, self-sensing MEMS transducers. Its commercial product line includes the compact desktop nGauge AFM, the automated Redux AFM, consumable AFM chips with DLC and WDG tips, and an AFM Array Technology program for semiconductor metrology and parallel scanning.

Product overview

ICSPI (Integrated Circuit Scanning Probe Instruments) offers a portfolio of desktop atomic force microscopes built on proprietary AFM-on-a-chip technology developed at the University of Waterloo. The product line consists of two core instruments — the nGauge AFM (compact, lightweight, introduced as the company's first product) and the Redux AFM (motorized, automated, with integrated optical microscope and motorized XY stage) — both sharing interchangeable sensor-integrated AFM chips that eliminate the need for laser alignment. An advanced AFM Array Technology using parallel MEMS-based scan heads targets semiconductor manufacturing metrology. Accessories include acoustic enclosures, vibration isolation tables, optical microscopes, and calibration gratings. Analysis software is provided via the open-source Gwyddion platform, and all instruments operate on Windows 10/11 via USB connection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Redux AFM: Automated atomic force microscope with motorized XY stage, integrated optical microscope, and unmatched time-to-results for sub-nanometer precision imaging.
• nGauge AFM
• AFM Chips

Products and services

• nGauge AFM Compact desktop atomic force microscope built on AFM-on-a-chip CMOS-MEMS technology, designed for non-specialists with one-click operation and sub-3-minute time-to-results, targeted at academic, industrial, and educational users.
• Redux AFM Automated atomic force microscope based on the AFM-on-a-chip platform with motorized XYZ stage and self-sensing MEMS detection, intended for industrial R&D, quality control, and repeatable nanoscale imaging.
• AFM Chips (DLC and WDG tips) Consumable MEMS AFM probe chips featuring Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) or Alumina Wedge (WDG) tips that integrate actuation and self-sensing detection, providing up to 1,000 nanoscale scans per chip for ICSPI AFM systems.
• AFM Array Technology (semiconductor metrology) MEMS-based arrayed AFM platform enabling parallel, high-throughput nanoscale scanning for semiconductor metrology, nanofabrication R&D, and wafer-level inspection, leveraging the same CMOS-MEMS transducer technology as ICSPI's benchtop AFMs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Go from sample loading to 3D nanoscale data in under 3 minutes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nanosurf: Swiss manufacturer of compact, easy-to-use desktop AFMs (e.g., FlexAFM, DriveAFM). The most head-to-head competitor with ICSPI in the small/affordable/easy-to-use AFM segment aimed at non-expert users and educators.
• Scienta Omicron: Provider of UHV scanning probe microscopy and surface analysis systems. Competes in the high-end research SPM market that overlaps with ICSPI's university and national lab customer base.
• Park Systems: Public AFM manufacturer serving both research and industrial/fab customers with automated AFMs. Direct competitor, particularly relevant for ICSPI's MEMS-array semi-metrology ambitions given Park's installed base in semiconductor fabs.
• RHK Technology: U.S.-based SPM/AFM manufacturer focused on UHV and surface science research systems. Competes with ICSPI in the advanced research AFM segment, particularly for customers needing low-temperature or specialized imaging modes.
• NT-MDT Spectrum Instruments: Russia-based AFM/SPM manufacturer with broad product range from research to industrial AFMs. Competes directly with ICSPI across academic and industrial customer segments, particularly in Europe and Asia.
• Keysight Technologies (AFM): Acquired the Agilent/HP AFM business and continues to sell high-resolution AFMs (e.g., 5500/7500 series). Competes in research-grade AFM with a focus on electrical measurement, an adjacent strength to ICSPI's MEMS-sensing approach.
• Oxford Instruments Asylum Research: Specialist AFM manufacturer (formerly Asylum Research) serving academic and industrial researchers with high-end AFMs. Closest direct competitor in target customer and product category, though positioned at higher price/performance tier than ICSPI's desktop instruments.

Broad incumbents

• Hitachi High-Tech (AFM): Sells AFM5000 series AFMs as part of a much larger scientific instruments portfolio including electron microscopes and semiconductor metrology. Overlaps with ICSPI's semi metrology positioning through its broader inspection product line.
• Bruker Nano Surfaces: Market-leading AFM/SPM manufacturer with the broadest AFM portfolio across research and industrial segments. Overlaps directly with ICSPI in atomic force microscopy but operates at vastly greater scale across many other instrument categories.
• JEOL: Major scientific instrument manufacturer offering AFMs/SPMs alongside electron microscopes and NMR systems. Broad incumbent with overlapping customers in academic and industrial research labs where ICSPI also sells.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icspicorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo-PWMW-d5X8A4KPJr0YtHw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icspi-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICSPI